Edible Flower Ice Cubes Fresh from the Garden
Add a lovely garden touch to your cocktails, tea, and lemonade with these edible flower ice cubes! Decorative floral ice cubes make drinks extra special for a bridal shower, baby shower, garden party, or just a casual afternoon!
There’s nothing that livens up a beverage like edible flowers. They add a pop of color and bring such summery delight to the drink!
For a long time, I would simply garnish my drinks with edible flowers floating on top.
That is until I tried out floral ice cubes and realized just how fun they can be!
These beautiful ice cubes are easy to make and keep on hand for any time you need to dress up a beverage.
Keep them in the freezer and you can even have floral beverages in the middle of winter!
Why You’ll Love Edible Flower Ice Cubes
They’re easy to make: It’s hard to beat one ingredient (plus water) and just 5-10 minutes of prep time. These little ice cubes are quick to make and couldn’t be easier.
Give drinks a special touch: These stunning floral ice cubes elevate your favorite beverages, delight guests (and you!), and bring a bit of the garden to your meal in a special way.
Preserve garden flowers: Make a big batch of these ice cubes and store them for later. In the winter or early spring when there is not a flower in sight, you’ll be so glad to have a little piece of summer in your freezer!
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure here.
What You’ll Need
- Ice tray: I used a silicone ice cube tray, but any trays work! I recommend opting for a large square shape so the flowers really pop.
- Edible flowers: Be sure to use organic edible flowers. If you grow your own, grow them organically and if you purchase them, be sure they are labeled as organic, edible flowers. Do not use flowers from a floral shop or grocery store as those are typically imported and heavily sprayed with chemicals.
- Cold water: Filtered water is recommended. Tap water tends to produce cloudy ice cubes, so it’s best to opt for filtered or distilled water to get crystal-clear ice cubes.
How to Make Edible Flower Ice Cubes
Step 1. Harvest the flowers in the early morning when they are fully opened. Give them a quick rinse until cool water.
Step 2. Carefully lay the flowers face-down in the ice cube tray.
Step 3. Gently pour water into each ice cube tray cell, trying to use the water to press the flower down so it does not float.
Step 4. Lay another flower onto each ice cube cell, face up. Gently press them into the water so they adhere to the liquid.
Step 5. Place the ice cube trays into the freezer and leave for several hours or overnight. Once the ice cubes are completely frozen, transfer them to a jar or bag and store them until use.
Step 6. Pop a few edible flower ice cubes in your beverages to add a lovely floral garnish!
Helpful Tips
- Add these pretty cubes to iced tea, cocktails, lemonade, or plain water!
- Harvest your flowers right before making the ice cubes for best results. Edible flowers do not store well. If you must store them for later, make sure they are completely dry and put them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- I like to set the ice cube trays on a baking sheet so I can transfer them to the freezer more easily without spilling.
- A gooseneck kettle works very well for pouring the water. If you don’t have one, you can use anything that allows you to pour a thin stream of water, such as a pitcher or a paper cup pinched to form a spout.
- If you opt for larger flowers, pull the petals off and use them individually so they fit better in your ice cube tray.
- You can freeze the ice cubes in layers if you can’t keep the flowers from floating. Add the flower and a tiny bit of water and put it in the freezer. Once the water freezes, add more water and freeze again.
- Once your ice cubes are fully frozen, pop them out of the tray and store them in a freezer bag to enjoy later. Work quickly; if they melt at all, they’ll refreeze into a big block.
- Feel free to use fresh herbs in addition to the flowers! I love adding mint leaves or small clippings of rosemary.
Best Flowers for Edible Flower Ice Cubes
There are so many edible flowers that make beautiful garnishes for beverages and food! Several years ago when I first began gardening, I was quite thrilled as I discovered how many common garden flowers are edible. I compiled all of my favorites into a list of the best edible flowers to grow in your garden!
That said, unless you have giant ice cube trays, you will want to opt for small edible flowers to put in your floral ice cubes. Here are a few suggestions:
- Violas and Johnny jump-ups
- Feverfew
- Chamomile
- Crimson clover
- Lavender
- Bachelor buttons (cornflowers)
- Calendula
- Borage
- Wild violets
- Lilacs
- Dianthus
- Nasturtiums
- Dandelions
It’s also a good idea to avoid overly flavorful edible flowers. Chive blossoms and radish flowers, for instance, are pretty and small, but they will infuse your drink with undesirable savory flavors.
Drinks to Enjoy with Edible Flower Ice Cubes
Plain old ice water! Add a wedge of lemon for some extra flavor and an additional garnish.
- Lemonade
- Iced tea ( I love lavender chamomile tea, fresh mint tea, and borage tea!)
- Seltzer water
- Strawberry Mojito
- Blueberry gin fizz
- Blackberry bourbon smash
- Plain old ice water! Add a wedge of lemon for some extra flavor and an additional garnish.
🌺🌿Enjoy the floral delights of summer in your next beverage! If you try these edible flower ice cubes and love them, I’d love it if you come back and leave a review. Thanks for visiting!
Edible Flower Ice Cubes
Equipment
- SIlicone ice cube tray
Ingredients
- Edible flowers make sure they're organic
- Cold water distilled or filtered
Instructions
- Harvest the flowers in the early morning when they are fully opened. Give them a quick rinse until cool water.
- Carefully lay the flowers face-down in the ice cube tray.
- Gently pour water into each ice cube tray cell, trying to use the water to press the flower down so it does not float.
- Lay another flower onto each ice cube cell, face up. Gently press them into the water so they adhere to the liquid.
- Place the ice cube trays into the freezer and leave for several hours or overnight. Once the ice cubes are completely frozen, transfer them to a jar or bag and store them until use.
- Pop a few edible flower ice cubes in your beverages to add a lovely floral garnish!
Notes
- See the post above for edible flower recommendations.
- Harvest your flowers right before making the ice cubes for best results. Edible flowers do not store well. If you must store them for later, make sure they are completely dry and put them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- A gooseneck kettle works very well for pouring the water. If you don’t have one, you can use anything that allows you to pour a thin stream of water, such as a pitcher or a paper cup pinched to form a spout.
- If you opt for larger flowers, pull the petals off and use them individually so they fit better in your ice cube tray.
- You can freeze the ice cubes in layers if you can’t keep the flowers from floating. Add the flower and a tiny bit of water and put it in the freezer. Once the water freezes, add more water and freeze again.
- Once your ice cubes are fully frozen, pop them out of the tray and store them in a freezer bag to enjoy later. Work quickly; if they melt at all, they’ll refreeze into a big block.
- Feel free to use fresh herbs in addition to the flowers! I love adding mint leaves or small clippings of rosemary.
